THE DRAWING.

They have rarely been encountered at such a high point in any one person. However, everything about it is true; there is nothing artificial, and we cannot study it too much; one could even say that it is of such perfect correction that it is more difficult to imitate accurately than nature itself; indeed, it is certain that there is no female figure, neither among what remains of the Greeks, nor among the sculptors of the later centuries, that can be compared to it. This is not to say that there are no other female figures worthy of admiration, and to cite an example that we have before us, the Andromeda by Puget is admirable: but what makes its beauty may perhaps be incompatible with the perfect correction of the Venus de Medici. In Puget's work, there are graces and softness of flesh full of charm; but they come from a certain plumpness, which, although very moderate, somewhat alters the correction of the forms. However, one can conclude that despite the perfection of the beautiful antiques, capable of discouraging all sculptors who want to imitate them, there are still ways to create very beautiful things that follow them as closely as possible, although through beauties of another kind. Besides, although the Venus de Medici is as perfect as one could wish, it seems nonetheless that its hands are not as well-chosen as the rest of the figure; there is some stiffness in the fingers, and one does not find those small softnesses that are so pleasing in the beautiful hands of a woman. Also, there is some appearance that they have been restored, and that the original ones may have been lost: this is the opinion of many artists. If one does not want to adopt this opinion, the inferiority of these hands will at least serve to prove that it does not.

Translation Notes

Venus de Medici: A famous ancient statue of the goddess Venus, renowned for its artistic excellence.
Andromeda by Puget: Refers to a work by Pierre Puget, a notable French sculptor.